A new species that I hadn’t seen before in the garden, the Hairy shield bug (Dolycoris baccarum).

1. DISTRIBUTION

The Hairy shield bug is one of the most common shieldbugs in the Netherlands with an exception for the northern provinces.  ^[1].
The bug occurs in herbrich biotopes, parks and gardens ^[1]. I hadn’t seen this stricking bug in the garden before, so a new garden species.

2. BEHAVIOUR

2.1. ACTIVITY

Adults can be found the whole year through and are most numerous in the period between April and November. They overwinter ^[1].

2.2. DEVELOPMENT

The larvae develop especially in plants from the rose family (Rosaceae) and are full grown in August ^[2].

3. IDENTIFICATION

The species is 10-12 mm in length. It is the only Shield bug with hairs on it neckshield.

These characteristics lead to identification ^{[1, 2]}:

1. Pronotum (necksheild) and corium (frontal part of the frontwing) whinered
2. Shield greenish to brown with a light tip
3. Banded black and white connexivum protruding from below the wings
4. Banden black and white antennae
5. Hairy neckshield

 

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Literature

¹ Aukema, B., Th. Heijerman & V.J. Kalkman 2016. Veldgids wantsen deel 1. – EIS Kennis­ centrum Insecten, Leiden.

² British bugs, An online identification guide to UK Hemiptera